Five great things to do in Berlin
Article by Jane Shelley
There are many great cities in the world but none like Berlin. The city, which was only completely reunited in 1990, is a vibrant example of a modern day European city. The city has a lot of exciting activities on offer, from history tours to marvelling at the Reichstag building. The area has an interesting history; occupation of the area was first documented in the 13th century. The German capital was originally the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. The historical wealth of the region has been ever changing and the city seems to have finally found its place in the world. The city was separated until the late 20th century; the area was divided after the Second World War with Soviet Russia controlling one side and western powers (America, Britain and France) controlling the other half. This division created a stark contrast between the east and west sides of the city, especially in terms of living conditions.
The city has now been reunited but there is still a difference between the two sides, surprisingly there also are many pieces of soviet occupation which have been incorporated into German society, including the traffic light symbols.
There are many things to do in Berlin, but here are a few suggestions:
Visit the absinth depot Berlin, this shop harks back to the era of famous painters and poets, and let's not forget their favourite drink. Absinth was illegal in many European countries, but has returned to the German capital.
Rent a chair at the Zagreus Projekt. Chef artist and gallery owner takes the art and food and brings it together in his studio. He invites a different artist to design an installation and then creates a multicourse dinner inspired by the instillation. Guests then 'rent a chair' at a long communal table and dine right in the middle of the art.
Go across the water to the Museumsinsel (Museum Island). There are five museums nestled on the island located on the river Spree. Designed as a sanctuary for arts and science the island was modelled on the architecture of Ancient Greece.
Walk along the path of the Berlin wall. The fall of the Berlin wall proclaimed the end of the partition of east and west sides of the city. The majority of the wall was demolished in 1990, although a small stretch remains. The wall represents a period in German history and at several points along the way there is documentation of the struggle for a free Berlin. One documentation centre charts the stories of escapees from the east of the city who tried to escape.
Explore the glass dome of the Reichstag. The original building fell into disrepair during the Second World War and was revamped in 1992 under the architectural direction of Norman Foster. The most striking thing about the building is the modern glass dome, from which you can see the German parliament below.
Germany has a lot to offer the discerning tourist, from culture, history and education. A holiday in Berlin promises to be a novel experience, to book flights to Germany click here.
Jane Shelley is an Australian travel writer. She loves venturing to Asia, Europe, Britain and the United States.